Hard Star Battle

Hard Star Battle answer — August 18, 2026

Stuck on the August 18, 2026 hard Star Battle (also called Two Not Touch)? Here's the complete step-by-step solution to the 9×9 grid — every star placed with pure logic, one deduction at a time, no guessing. Tap Next to step through it, or brush up on the rules first.

Solve walkthrough Step 1 of 52

Full written solution

Every deduction from the walkthrough above, in order. Each technique is explained in the Star Battle strategy guide.

  1. Starting position — the grid is split into regions (bold outlines). Each row, column, and region needs exactly two stars, and no two stars may touch.
  2. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 8).
  3. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 9).
  4. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 7, column 8).
  5. Mark 6 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 7).
  6. Clump analysis (Region 1): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 4, column 6).
  7. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 8, column 6).
  8. Clump analysis (Row 6): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 7, column 2).
  9. Clump analysis (Row 8): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 9, column 2).
  10. Squeeze (rows 4-5): the band's clumps can only just fit its stars (row 3, column 2).
  11. Generalized counting (rows 9-9): region star limits exclude these cells (row 9, column 1).
  12. Blocking rule: This position would block too many candidates (row 7, column 3).
  13. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 8, column 4).
  14. Mark 3 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 5).
  15. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 8, column 2).
  16. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 7, column 1).
  17. Row completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 7, column 6).
  18. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 5).
  19. Clump analysis (Column 5): candidate clumps can only just supply the remaining stars (row 2, column 4).
  20. Composite container (columns 1-3): Region 4 is confined here, so the leftover cells owe exactly 3 of the band's 6 stars - a star on these cells would crowd them out (row 4, column 2).
  21. Three candidates with two adjacent: Isolated candidate must hold a star (row 6, column 3).
  22. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 6, column 2).
  23. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 6, column 1).
  24. Two last candidates (column 2): Eliminate 4 cells adjacent to both (row 1, column 1).
  25. Two last candidates (column 3): Eliminate 1 cell adjacent to both (row 3, column 4).
  26. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 4).
  27. Mark 2 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 1, column 5).
  28. Three candidates in a column: Middle cell can't hold a star (row 4, column 5).
  29. Column completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 3, column 5).
  30. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 6).
  31. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 4, column 3).
  32. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 3).
  33. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 4, column 7).
  34. Mark 5 cells adjacent to stars as X (row 3, column 7).
  35. Region completion: 2 stars needed, 2 candidates (row 5, column 5).
  36. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 5, column 9).
  37. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 4, column 9).
  38. Row 4 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 4, column 1).
  39. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 3, column 1).
  40. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 2).
  41. Row 3 complete: Mark 1 remaining cells as X (row 3, column 9).
  42. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 1, column 2).
  43. Region complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 6).
  44. Row 1 complete: Mark 2 remaining cells as X (row 1, column 8).
  45. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 6).
  46. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 7).
  47. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 7).
  48. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 2, column 8).
  49. Region completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 2, column 9).
  50. Column completion: 1 star needed, 1 candidate (row 9, column 8).
  51. Mark 1 cell adjacent to stars as X (row 9, column 9).
  52. Solved! Every row, column, and region has its two stars, none touching.

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This step-by-step walkthrough is generated by the TryHard Puzzles solver to teach Star Battle (Two Not Touch) solving technique.